U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

In 2014 a U.S.-led coalition began a campaign of airstrikes in Iraq and Syria – officially known as Operation Inherent Resolve – following the capture of large swathes of the countries by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS). An intense air and ground campaign drove ISIS out of almost all territory by 2018 but resulted in significant destruction and loss of life.

Airwars documented thousands of allegations of civilian harm from U.S.-led Coalition strikes and has conducted numerous major investigations and research papers on the topic.

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

8,249 – 13,342

Locally reported civilian deaths from declared or likely U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by the U.S.-led Coalition. These originate from 3,003 separate alleged incidents.

1,728 – 2,371
children likely killed
1,127 – 1,468
women likely killed
5,930
likely injured
3,784
named victims

U.S.-led Coalition estimate of civilian deaths

1,457

Confirmed civilian deaths, from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria, originating from 364 separate incidents of civilian harm.

411
civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
19,217 – 29,816
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria.
3,003 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
8,249 – 13,342
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by U.S.-led Coalition
1,553 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
2,397 – 2,821
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
435 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
7,877 – 12,576
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
783 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
694 – 1,077
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
232 seperate alleged incidents
2996 incidents
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

25 September 2014

Incident Code

CS002

Location

الحسكة, Al-Hasakah, Al Hassakah, Syria
The Syrian Martyrs website claimed that six unnamed civilian males were killed in a Coalition airstrike on Al Hassakah. It said it had obtained the news via the Syrian Network for Human Rights, though that original report cannot presently be traced. In July 2017 the Coalition classed the event as Non-Credible, saying there was too…

Summary

Published
25 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
6
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

24–29 September, 2014

Incident Code

CS009

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
A number of sources including the Syrian Martyrs website reported that a woman was killed in a Coalition airstrike on Ar Raqqah. She was reported as being a resident of the city. The3 Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies also reported her death fropm Coalition actions - though said this occured on September 24th: " Fawzia…

Summary

Published
29 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

23 September 2014

Incident Code

CS001

Location

كفردريان, Kafr Daryan, Idlib, Syria
On the first night of US airstrikes in Syria, the United States carried out a sequence of attacks on the Al Qaeda-affiliated Khorasan Group (part of the al-Nusra Front.) For the only recorded occasion during the allied air war, the US deployed Tomahawk cruise missiles to strike targets in the vicinity of Aleppo. Locals also…

Summary

Published
23 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
13–18
Civilians reported injured
15
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

14 September 2014

Incident Code

CI005

Location

سنجار, Sinjar, Nineveh, Iraq
An internal CENTCOM review identified potential civilian casualties from a Coalition airstrike in “northern Iraq.” The only location for this date which matches is Sinjar. The incident was not previously tracked by Airwars. According to a declassified CENTCOM document, “A review of FMV from a RECOIL feed revealed unknown individuals moving into a target area…

Summary

Published
14 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

5 September 2014

Incident Code

CI004

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Houses neighboring the Turkish Consulate, Nineveh, Iraq
Sources in the city claimed that an airstrike carried out at approximately 10pm in the vicinity of the Turkish consulate in Mosul had killed Ridwan Akram, his wife and their child. According to a commemorative Facebook page, the family had only recently returned after three months in Turkey when they died. While a number of…

Summary

Published
5 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

3 September 2014

Incident Code

CI003

Location

الوحدة, Mosul, Al Wahda, Nineveh, Iraq
A reported aerial bombardment (at 2200hrs local time) near an ISIL HQ east of Mosul, allegedly left up to seven members of the same family dead and injured in the al-Wadha Street area. At least three women were reported killed and a man and child injured. While Baghdad TV attributed the strike to US aircraft,…

Summary

Published
3 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
3–7
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident